Tea and Sympathy

As I continue on the Anglophile topic, our journey takes us right next door to A Salt and Battery, to Tea and Sympathy. This wonderful little British restaurant & store located at 110 Greenwich in Greenwich Village is the right place for anyone who is looking to purchase almost anything British in nature (especially food or beverage related). The restaurant is complete with all the English favorites, such as bangers and mash, welsh rarebit, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, and much more. The food, for those of us that love British fare, is fantastic, and makes you think you are sitting in a restaurant in the UK. Even if you cannot go tot he restaurant and have an upcoming office party, or event, Tea and Sympathy does cater as well. Its been written up in the US with rave reviews in the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveller & the New Yorker, and even has great press across the pond in British Elle, The Sunday Mirror, the Independent.

After your meal, visit the attached store, where you can buy English Teapots, a wide range of teas (like Typhoo & PG Tips), and a wide range of groceries, like clotted cream, varied beans and british foodstuffs, and a wide range of candies (like fruit gums, wine gums, and Cadbury chocolates (from the UK not US).

Whether you want to stop in and eat or shop, or take advantage of the free local deliveries that are available between the West Side Highway and 5th Avenue, and from Canal St to 33rd Street, try Tea and Sympathy to fill your British Cravings.

A Salt and Battery

Anglophiles take notice, whether you are a Brit in the US, or just love England, this restaurant is for you, and it will make you think you are London.

A Salt and Battery is a fish and chip shop in Greenwich Village in NYC (located on 112 Greenwich Ave, between 12th & 13th St). When you walk into this little restaurant - the first thing you notice is the selection that you have. On top of the other menu items - they offer 6 different types of fish to choose from:

Halibut / TilapiaHaddock
Sole
Code
Whiting
Pollock

The fish is fantastic - fresh and tasty....and all of their items are fried in veggie oil.

They also offer traditional british sides, like mushy peas, pickled onions, potato dabs, and even offer british drinks, like Irn-Bru, Tango, Tizer, and Lucozade.

So come in, enjoy Capital Radio on Sirius playing in the background, and enjoy the best fish and chips in NYC.

Petite Abeille

Another favorite in New York City, is Petite Abeille, a small belgian bistro with 4 locations. I have only been to the Tribeca and the West Village location but would assume that all 4 have similar quality.

The decor is quite friendly - with it taken homage to its namesake "Little Bee" which was a very popular childrens book in Belgium in the 70's. The interiors of their restaurants are all decorated with images of Tintin and other popular Belgian cartoon and comic book characters.

The menu starts off in a beer lover's fantasy, with over 40+ belgian beers (mostly in bottle) ranging from Lambics, Abbey Ales, Trappistes, Amber Ales, and Strong Golden Ales. If you would prefer a glass of wine - they have a decent wine list as well. Just check out the chalk board on the wall to see exactly what they have.

From Breakfast to Dinner - with lunch and brunch in between, Petite Abeille has a wide range of Waffles, Omelettes, Sandwiches, Croques, Moules, Steak & Frites, and Salads to chose from. They do have a kids menu for those who dine with their children. The pricing is reasonable and portions are nice sized. They also have daily specials between Monday and Thursday and are :

Monday: 1/2 off all Belgian beers from Noon to Close
Tuesday: 1/2 off all bottle of wine
Wednesday: $19.95 for all you can eat Moules/Mussells and One Stella
Thursday: $19.95 Lobster Night.

So stop in and try Petite Abeille, as they can be found in New York City at the following locations:
#1 - 401 E 20th @ 1st Ave
#2 - 466 Hudson btw Grove and Barrow Sts
#3 - 44 W 17th Street btw 5th and 6th Sts
#4 - 134 W Broadway btw Duane and Thomas Sts

Peep Soho

This is one of the best, trendy and quirky restaurants in Soho in NYC. This Thai restaurant is a local favorite for great food and a kitschy bathroom. For the amount and quality of food, this is a true lunchtime value.

For $7 or $8 bucks, you get a Lunch entree, which are various chicken, beef, tofu, or shrimp dishes made in various ways, including Pad Thai, Green Curry, Massaman, and Ginger. With this lunch you get a free complimentary starter, that are quite intriguing, such as Semolina fritters with a coriander and curry sauce, Leek Spring rolls, with a carrot juice vinaigrette, and others

The star of the show however is the bathroom, which is correctly tied to the name. For those who have never been - who go into the bathroom, are surprised by a one way window in which you can see the entire restaurant....but the restaurant cannot see you (OR CAN THEY???)

Take a lunch break at Peep for a great lunch and a good value. Peep Soho is located at 177 Spring Street - just east of 6th Avenue,.

Innis & Gunn

For those of you that love great beer, I have found one for you! Innis & Gunn, an oak aged beer from Edinburgh, Scotland, is an award winning beer that should not be missed. (Especially if you also like Scotch!)

I found this gem by accident at the Riverside Market on Pearl Street in Downtown NYC and have only found it at a few stores in the city (Its $4.50 a bottle price tag wasn't a deterrant, but you can find them at other places in the city for $2.50). This beer is actually aged in oak barrels that one would normally use to age whiskey. Because of this, the finish has hints of oak and has a similarity to a fine scotch. This honey colored brew has a very pronounced vanilla edge, with hints of citrus and the lingering oaky finish, which is somewhat sweet. Because of this complex taste, it makes a great compliment to steak, sausages, pork loin, curries, and desserts, like Creme Brulee.

This beer goes through a 77 day process, in which it resides in the oak barrels for 30 days. The flavor is unmistakeable and is one of the best, unique beers on the market. For those of you that scoff at Bud Light, Coors, or Miller, this beer should be on your must drink lists. Unfortunately, its distributor, Phoenix Beverages Inc, from Long Island City, NY only stocks in the NYC area.

All in all, if you know someone in the NYC area, or are visiting, make it a point to locate a bottle (or 2) of Innis and Gunn and you will surely enjoy!

Financier Patisserie

Obviously being a foodie in New York City has its benefits (to say the least), but sometimes trying to find a great cup of coffee (not a good quick morning cup, but a GOOD cup of coffee) is tough to do. Whether it is the natural ending of a great meal, to warm you up on a cold winter day, or a pick me up in the morning after a long night, a great cup of coffee is almost heavenly. In the world of the trendy cup of bitter Starbucks brew, when you find that place to get a good cup you savor it (no pun intended).

Nestled between 5 Starbucks in Lower Manhattan, Financier Patisserie is THE place to find that great cup of coffee. They start by brewing one of the best Italian brands around, Illy, which creates a wonderfully strong (but NOT bitter) cup of Joe. This little quaint storefront located on the cobblestoned Stone Street is a great place to grab a cup of coffee, but its also known for its pastries. Daily made madeleines, brioches, filled macaroons, cakes, torts, and Italian & French Pastries that are just out of this world.

So if you live in New York City, or are visiting on business or pleasure, come and taste for yourself. With two locations in Lower Manhattan, one on Stone Street, just off of Beaver Street, and one on William Street, between Cedar and Liberty Sts (across from the Chase Building), they are close to the sites and convenient to get to. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.